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(No Model.)

0. P. LOOMIS. AUTOMATIG CIRCUIT CONTROLLER FOR BLEGTRI LIGHTS. No. 402,754. Patented May '7, 1889.

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UNITED STATES OSBORN P. LOOMIS, OF SOMERVILLE,

PATENT OFFICE.

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,754, dated May *7, 1889.

Application filed April 15, 1887. Serial No. 23 L953. (N0 model.)

2'0 coZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ()SBORN P. LOOMIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Circuit- Oontrollers for Electric Lights, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to so control an electric circuit having electro-receptive devices therein, preferably incandescent elec tric lamps, that when one of the same is incapacitated another will automatically by the current itself be put in circuit and the former cut out of circuit.

The invention consists in an arrangement of circuits for accomplishing the above purpose in connection with incandescent electric lamps havingaconductor sealed in the globes thereof between the branches of the filament, as described in my application, Serial No. 225,318, filed January 2t, 1887, and in having a circuit connecting with such conductor in such a manner that when the filament becomes broken in any way the current will be diverted to the circuit connected with the con ductor, in which circuit is located a fusible wire for cutting out the lamp and putting another in circuit by the current caused to flow over said circuit, all of which will be described in detail, and the new features pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, 1,2, and 3 represent incandescent electric lamps connected with a main line, L, in the manner represented in the drawing. Between the branches of the filament of each lamp is preferably arranged a T-shaped conductor, 0, which is sealed in the globe or otherwise suitably disposed, as pointed out in the application referred to above. Connected with these conductors are circuits (1 (Z d in which circuits are arranged devices for cutting the lamp out of circuit and putting another in when the current is caused to flow over said circuit upon failure The lamp Z is represented as the one normally in circuit. It is connected with the main line L by a conductor, L. In the circuit (1, connected with the conductor C of lamp Z, is arranged a fusible wire, c,which is fastened to a spring-actuated lever, I), normally held away from a contact-spring, c, by means of said fusible wire. The lever b is pivoted to a metal piece, f, connected with, preferably, the negative pole of the line L. Should the filament of lamp Zbecome incapacitated for duty, the current circulating in the same will be caused. to leap across to the conductor O, as pointed out in my application above alluded to, and pass over the fusible wire a, causing the same to melt, which will allow the lever Z) to be drawn against the contactspring 6, causing the circuit of the lamp 2 to be completed through the conductor L and shunting the current from the conductor L. In the circuit (1 connected with the lamp 2, as described, is arranged an electro-magnetic cutout instead of fusible cut-out, as in the premous instance, to illustrate another way in which the circuits may be controlled; but I make no claim to this electro-niagnetic cut out arrangement, the invention being confined to my fusible cutout in the combination described. An elec tro-magnet, m, is arranged in this circuit (1 which is also connected with a metal piece, f, upon which the lever b is pivoted, as before. The armature a of the magnet m normally holds the lever 11 from its contact-spring c by engaging a hooked portion of the same. \Vhen the current is diverted over the circuit (P, the electro-magnet m becomes energized, attracts its armature, and allows the lever b to make contact with the spring e, completing the circuit of the lamp 3 by way of a portion of the circuit (1 over the conductor L short-circuiting the broken filament in the line L Should the filament in the lamp 3 fail, the current will be diverted over the circuit (1* and this lamp cut-out, as in the previous instances, the current passing over its lever Z) by way of its contact-spring a, metal piecef, and line L and L, the latter of which is connected with the negative terminal of the main of the filament.

line L.

I may use any number of lamps which may be successively placed in circuit, and do not wish therefore to confine myself to any special number, it being only necessary to increase the circuits and circuit-controllin g devices in the manner I have indicated.

In the present case the conductor 0 is preferably made T shape, which I regard as a slight improvement upon the form of conductor used in my previous application.

Having now set forth my invention and described its mode of operation,what I desire to caim, and secure by Letters Patent of the United States as my invention, is-

1. The combination, with a group of two or more incandescent electric lamps, having conductors sealed between the branches of the filament in the path of the arc forming on rupture of the filament, as set forth, one of which lamps is placed incircuit first, circuits connected with said conductors and in electrical communication with normally-open circuit-closers and the line, fusible wires in the path of said circuits, cut-out devices also located in said circuits normally held from operation by said fusible wires, and electrical co11nections',whereby when the filament of the first lamp fails the second will be brought in circuit, and when the second fails the third will be brought in circuit, and so on, substantially in the manner specified.

2. The combination of two or more incandescent lamps, as 1 2 3, the former of which is in the main line L L, a T-shaped conductor, 0, sealed in the globe of each lamp between the branches of the filament in the pat-h of the are forming on rupture of the filament idlecircuits d d 01 850., connected with the same, afusible wirein the path of each of said idlecircuits, automatic cut-out devices in said circuits normally held from operation by said fusible wires, and normally-open conductors L ,L and L 850., connected to the lamps and to the line, arranged to be successively placed in circuit by said fusible cut-out devices, all operating and combined for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and. seal, this 9th day of April, 1887, in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

' OSBORN P. LOOMIS. [L. s.]

WVitnesses:

GEo. WYATT DICKERMAN, GEo. L. STEVENS. 

